Search - Various Artists :: Jingle Bell Swing

SWINGIN' AND SCATTIN' SANTA BABY!

Alan W. Petrucelli | THE ENTERTAINMENT REPORT (ALAN W. PETRUCELLI) | 05/25/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"More scattin' and swingin' can be found in this holiday gem, on which cool Yule music doesn't get any hotter. The Duke n "Jingle Bells." Benny and Peggy on "Winter Weather." Louie Prima on "What Will Santa Say When Finds Everybody Swinging?" Miles on "Blue Xmas." The surprise gem --- and it works, what a jewel 'tis --- Art Carney (yes, that Art Carney) on "'Twas the Night before Christmas." Ooooh Santa baby!"

Nice jazzy collection of holiday interpretations

David Pearlman | Arlington, MA United States | 11/14/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Let's face it: Most holiday compilations fall into one of two cataogories: 1) The same old hit warhorses in the same old versions, trotted out yet again, mixed with a bunch of junk chosen to fill out the CD and save the label on royalties; 2) Unmemorable interpretations by unknowns marketed at a budget price.



This collection is neither of those. Instead, what you get is a collection of interpretations by some of the biggest names in the history of jazz and swing. Few of these would be called definitive, but most of these are excellent in their own right. And since you probably already have enough copies of ol' Bing singing "White Christmas", this is a nice collection to add into rotation for flavor. At the price, it's a no brainer.



"

What Will Santa Say When He Finds Everybody Swinging?

Tom Without Pity | A Major Midwestern Metropolis | 02/23/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Jingle Bell Swing is a Sony CD release of various artists performing different tunes associated with either Christmas or at least the winter season.



Leasding off is Duke Ellington and his Orchestra in a swinging version of "Jingle Bells" recorded in 1962. Duke and the band are also represented by "Sugar Plum Cherry," a version of "Sugar Plum Fairy" recorded in 1960. Louis Prima is also present on this CD with "What Will Santa Claus Say When He Finds Everybody Swinging?" from 1936 as well as "Shake Hands with Santa Claus" from 1951.



Also among the 14 holiday tunes on this CD are Herbie Hancock & Chick Corea doing "Deck the Halls" from 1969, Tony Bennett doing "Winter Wonderland" from 1968 and The Glenn Miller Orchestra directed by Tex Benecke playing Claude Thornhill's "Snowfall" recorded in 1965.



Also included is a recording of Benny Goodman and his Orchestra with Peggy Lee

doing "Winter Weather" in 1941. Other highlights are Russell Malone's "O Christmas Tree" and Art Carney's jumping 1954 version of "Twas the Night Before Christmas."



Included too is Pony Poindexter doing "Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer," along with Lambert, Hendriks and Ross swinging out with Walt Kelly's "Deck Us All With Boston Charlie" and Miles Davis's 1962 "Blue Xmas" followed by Carmen McRae"s 1962 recording of "The Christmas Song."



I rate this unusually fine holiday CD five stars just because of its good overall musical quality and a couple of really unusual and rare recordings that are included."